Chilean Senate Commission approves mining patent reform bill

The Chilean Senate's Mining and Energy Commission has approved a bill aimed at simplifying the mining patent regime. The legislation, introduced by President José Antonio Kast, seeks to provide greater legal certainty and reduce bureaucratic burdens for small-scale and artisanal miners.

Key changes in the proposal include eliminating the progressive payment scale that previously increased costs based on unproven activity, and establishing stable values of 0.1 UTM per hectare for active miners and 0.4 UTM for those without proven activity. The bill also introduces exploration as a new reason for patent reductions and allows lessees and those with pending concessions to access reduced rates.

The National Mining Society (Sonami) has expressed concern regarding ongoing auctions of mining properties for unpaid patents. The industry group has called for a suspension of these auctions, such as those scheduled in Antofagasta, to avoid legal contradictions while the reform is being processed in Congress.